title: Behavioural expressions, imagery and perfectionism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High levels of multidimensional perfectionism may be dysfunctional in their own right and can also impact on the maintenance and treatment of Axis I psychiatric disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper sought to describe the behavioural expressions and imagery associated with perfectionism in a non-clinical sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 59) completed a newly developed questionnaire to assess behavioural expressions of perfectionism, and an adapted interview to assess perfectionism-related intrusive mental images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study found that those high in perfectionism took longer to complete tasks, experienced more checking and safety behaviour whilst carrying out tasks, and had greater trouble actually completing tasks compared to those low in perfectionism. In addition, those with higher levels of perfectionism experienced intrusive mental imagery, which was more distressing, harder to dismiss, and had more impact on behaviour than those with lower levels of perfectionism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research provides an initial exploration of the specific behaviours and intrusive mental imagery associated with perfectionism. The new behavioural measure of perfectionism could prove useful clinically in the assessment of change; however, these findings are preliminary and warrant replication in a clinical sample in order to examine their treatment implications.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Clinical Language Science, University of Reading, UK. m.j.lee@reading.ac.uk
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roberts-Collins
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coughtrey
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Roz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shafran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult